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News > Sport

Guardiola Punished for Supporting Catalonia, Flirts With Ban

  • Guardiola has until March 5 to respond to the federation's charge.

    Guardiola has until March 5 to respond to the federation's charge. | Photo: Reuters FILE

Published 25 February 2018
Opinion

Guardiola risks a more serious touchline ban if he wears the symbolic yellow ribbon during the Carabao Cup final, in which his City will face Arsenal.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for breaching the body's kit and advertising regulations. 

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Guardiola will be sanctioned for “wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon,” according to the FA. The City chief had previously ignored two official warning from the organization.

The FA began to hold dialogue with Guardiola, in December, regarding wearing the ribbon pitchside, which the body says is a violation of its regulations.

The ex-Barcelona and Spain midfielder has until March 5 to respond to the federation's charge.

The revered soccer manager explained, late last year, that he dons the ribbon in solidarity with imprisoned politicians in his native Catalonia.

“All the politicians that are in prison, I hope they can leave and go back home soon with their families and continue living the lives they deserve,” he expressed.

Guardiola is free to wear the yellow ribbon pitchside during Union of European Football Associations Champions League fixtures, since the FA rules exclude Tuesdays and Wednesdays, or unrestricted during pre- and post-match media commitments.

“Hopefully sooner or later I can stop wearing it (altogether),” the soccer manager further explained.

Guardiola, who has steadfastly supported Catalan's independence movement, also risks a more serious touchline ban if he wears the symbolic yellow ribbon during the Carabao Cup final, in which his Manchester City outfit will face Arsenal.

“I do that because in Spain two specific people who defend something like the vote, something the people in command do not agree with, are in prison. It’s unfair. To make a rebellion on something like that, you have to be something tough to be in prison. And they are still there,” Guardiola said.

“OK, they can suspend me for doing that, but the other people are in jail. If they want to suspend me — UEFA, Premier League, FIFA — it’s OK.”

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